This Mumbai-Based Startup Helping In Unlocking Potential Of Young Children

Raising Superstars, a Mumbai-based startup, is transforming early childhood education by helping parents unlock their child's potential through research-backed methods. The company offers unique programs designed to foster cognitive, emotional, and physical development. In an exclusive interview with Bizz Buzz, Raghav Himatsingka, Co-founder of Raising Superstars, shares the inspiration behind the venture.

"Becoming a father was a pivotal moment in my life," said Himatsingka. "It led me to create something for my son—and millions of others—that could offer them the best start in life." Through their innovative Prodigy Framework and Prodigy Baby App, Raising Superstars provides engaging, screen-free activities that promote holistic growth for children, combining traditional techniques with modern technology

What inspired you to develop Raising Superstars?

The Prodigy Framework and the Prodigy Baby App came into existence around the Covid-19 outbreak, this is the period that raised questions about my son’s health and education. I started working in the family business after relocating to Georgia Tech and later to Stanford for my studies and later established Truckola, the logistics company. However, as Covid reflected the pause in the logistics sector, I flew back home to Kolkata. Becoming a father was a pivotal moment in my life that inspired me to build something for my son and for millions of other children. What started with a personal intent, gradually turned into a significant project, all thanks to the parents’ contribution and their kind words of encouragement.

What is the price range of your program? What is the ideal age of the child at which parents should opt for the program?

At Raising Superstars, we develop distinct programs that are appropriate for every stage of the child’s growth from the age of 0-6 years and that is why the price varies from country to country. In India, it starts around Rs 500 with core options including The Prodigy Baby System and The Genius Program monetized at a premium of Rs1.5 lakh.

We suggest initiating the programs when a child is about 2-3 months of age, given that children become active learners around this time. All our programs make it easy and possible for parents to approach the issue of holistic development of the child positively and constructively across all the critical stages of early childhood.

Can you explain the research methods and trials you conducted to ensure the effectiveness of this system?

The program uses some skills and abilities that babies are born with which is backed by years of scientifically proven methods. It has been developed by experts in the field of early childhood education, paediatrics, and child development and each activity undergoes 5 review stages of the design to increase its effectiveness. Following the works of great scholars, including Dr. Glenn Doman, Dr. Maria Montessori, and Prof. Makoto Shichida, the method is based on the study of more than 60 different sources. Several activities designed as part of this program provide for the development of physical strength, speed reading, photogenic memory, and several languages - making all of it easy, effective, and able to fit into everyday practices.

What feedback have you received from parents who have used the Prodigy Baby App with their children?

Thanks to the wonderful responses provided by parents who have used our Prodigy Baby App for their child’s growth and development. One parent witnessed an increase in their child’s deep focus on activities with the booster cards that we have and was amazed he could learn and acquire new information so efficiently. Another parent appreciated how their young one could point out a bird on TV because he had seen it on our flashcards. The same applies to our website and the community, there are plenty of such examples and testimonies that suggest the Prodigy Baby App enhances the development of young children and allows their families to have enriching experiences during this journey.

Could you discuss the competitive landscape in your industry and explain how you stand out from other companies?

Raising Superstars is a category innovator and founder in the space of early childhood development studies, offering unique, innovative home-based solutions that are quite different from what the industry offers. In contrast to what other companies offer, our methods are distinct because they are a mix of conventional and modern techniques. Our Prodigy Framework™ is a trademark and our Prodigy Baby App both are first of their kind, curated to aim specifically for babies, toddlers, and young children less than six years old. These and other methods are not only designed to be stress-free and screen-free but also take children through fun and interesting experiences so that while relaxing at home, their capabilities are developed.

What are the key reasons for prioritizing early childhood development and education, and why is it essential for children's growth and future success?

At Raising Superstars, we believe that the first six years of a child’s life are vital for the acquisition of knowledge, health, and well-being. There's a good reason why this period is often called a “golden window”, as it is during this time that a child’s brain can grow, develop, and learn much more effectively. Interventions during this time span can help develop everything – from education to emotional intelligence and coping skills. Failure to take advantage of these approaches can also adversely affect a child’s future if this “Window of Golden Opportunity” is missed.

Parents continue to mention how Raising Superstars has enabled their children to develop important cognitive, emotional, and physical capabilities. Focusing on these gifts that are largely available at birth, we aim for all children to grow in all aspects so that they can function efficiently in today’s multi-faceted reality.

In what ways can technology and innovation reshape the early childhood education industry?

Radical changes in the early childhood education sector can be witnessed in the way its operations are developing, how companies are now moving towards personalization and have open access with new technological solutions for all. When young children work with digital tools, they become engaged in ways that are not possible with conventional approaches. AI and data analytics contribute significantly to the effectiveness of the processes by curating content appropriate to each child’s abilities and age & developmental stage. AI can help in performing activities that are best suited to the specific learning mode of a given child to help them achieve their potential.

Digital resources help in reaching out to more families and ensuring that quality early education is incorporated as part of the package offered to parents by providing them with structured activities and materials. In this context, for teachers, real-time changes in how children learn can be facilitated through the use of technology, therefore, allowing children to reach developmental milestones.

What challenges does the early childhood development industry face, and what opportunities exist for growth and improvement?

One crucial problem in the early childhood education sector is accessibility. Many families in low-income neighborhoods are unable to find good programs, causing a hindrance for their children. Also, there is an increasing shortage of qualified teachers who could help in improving the academic and holistic development of a child.

Such issues are being dealt with through worldwide campaigns by entities such as the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority ECA. The ECA has published several research papers putting forward the wider aspect of early childhood development and the need to deploy strategies for health and nutrition and education and family support. Their endeavors show that there is a strong emphasis for creativity, research, and partnership to ensure that every child is provided with the chance to succeed.

Raising Superstars is proud to be part of such a campaign and support it. Our programs are consistent with these activities and promote active and holistic development where subsequent studies are not purely technological but a mix of conventional and modern strategies. We consider it our duty to raise children who do not have one track development but cross-development so that they are prepared for the future, irrespective of the socioeconomic status of their family. By providing equal precedence to education and other skills for life, we seek to enable success for the future generations.

Why is investing in early childhood development and education essential for individual and societal progress?

So it can be stated that early childhood education is not only an investment in a child, and in his or her future but also it is about the greater whole that early childhood education affects.

Children who go through quality early development programs have reliable chances of excelling in school, attending college or university and have a meaningful life. More specifically from the economic angle, investment made during early childhood development is much more effective as it gives back the money spent for correction in the future more than what was spent for correction of learning, health and other social costs.

The main emphasis of early childhood education is also based on a concern of investing in a better future not just for each child but for all of society. It can therefore be seen that education of the young people today provides them with the foundation with which they need to hammer on the challenges they encounter on the way to the top in this constantly changing society.

There is much more that can be learned about early learning that may potentially take the average person by surprise. Early development programs are a priority for a child's success in academic area and concern continuing progress by means of development of cognitive, emotional, and social aspects. Activities in centers and kindergartens stress play-based activities, the inclusion of different contexts, the sense and presence of social relations and, of course, respect for oneself to make the world a better place.

Quality early education definitely enhances cognitive abilities, school readiness and long-term academic performance as observed by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) in India. According to the report, investing in early childhood education pays big dividends for every rupee spent in terms of higher future earnings and reduced social cost. And, investing in early development leads to children who are well rounded, confident individuals forming a generation of capable and competent citizens making a huge positive contribution towards the economy and society as a whole.

How can startups drive innovation and transformation in the early childhood education industry?

Through the use of technology driven personalized approaches, there is a great opportunity for startups to transform the early childhood education system. With digital platforms established, they can ensure that quality education gets to the families worldwide and especially those living in rural regions. When implemented with the help of AI, these platforms can provide learners with the adaptive learning tools that are adjusted to individual children’s needs, provide them with the most stimulating activities and help them unleash their potential.

Moreover, startups could be even more beneficial for parents and caregivers as they can give tools to make any daily task into an educational one. To meet such needs as those relating to screen time, products can be created that incorporate technology-based educational content with traditional activities that do not require comprehensive use of devices. In conclusion, innovations are trending in early childhood care education as startups promote play-based approaches that foster the whole child while adopting information technology as an innovation in individualized learning.